Floors take a lot of beating, so you want something durable
and long lasting. While there are many flooring options available, many
homeowners still choose hardwood flooring or laminate flooring that looks like
hardwood. Both have their own advantages and drawbacks, so if you aren't sure
which is right for your home, keep reading.
Cost
Laminate flooring may cost
anywhere
between $0.90 and $7 a square foot. The price largely depends on the thickness
and how well the wood mimics the look of wood. Therefore, if you choose cheaper
materials, expect thin, artificial-looking boards. If you choose laminate
flooring closer to $7 per square foot, the boards will be thicker and look much
more realistic.
The cost of installing the laminate flooring adds another $2
to $5 a square foot. If you want something elaborate or complicated, you may
have to pay more, and if you have a particularly small project like the area
around your front door, there may be a flat rate of $200 to $500.
Hardwood flooring is usually more expensive, but it depends
on the type
you choose. Pine planks may only cost $3 to $6 per square foot plus another $3
to $5 per square foot for installation. Cherry, oak, or teak are more
expensive, costing $5 to $10 for materials and $4 to $8 per square foot for
installation. Lastly, Brazilian walnut, tigerwood, mahogany, and cypress can
cost as much as $8 to $14 per square foot for materials and $4 to $8 for
installation.
Durability
Both laminate and hardwood flooring have their pros and cons
with regard to durability. Laminate flooring usually resists scratches and
dents well because of the manufacturing process that presses the laminate
boards. Laminate flooring, however, is prone to water damage. For this reason,
it may not be a good idea to install it in bathrooms or basements.
Overall, hardwood is more durable than laminate flooring,
but it can dent or scratch easily. Even something as minor as scooting a chair
across the floor may scratch the wood. Similarly, dropping a heavy pot may dent
the wood.
Hardwood is also susceptible to water damage, so this type
of flooring is not ideal for bathrooms or basements either. These areas are
more prone to flooding from water backing up, moisture from humidity, and flood
water from outside. Therefore, regardless of whether you choose laminate or hardwood,
you'll need to clean up spills fast.
Maintenance
Maintaining a laminate floor is simple. Typically, you just
want to keep the floor clean without using harsh cleaners or too much water.
You also aren't supposed to wax, polish, or buff your laminate flooring, which
also helps reduce the level of maintenance.
Hardwood floors also need to be kept clean, but because they
are more prone to scratches, you'll need to sweep your hardwood floor often.
Even small bits of dirt from outside can cause surface scratches. You will also
need to recoat the hardwood floors occasionally.
If damage does occur, fixing a hardwood floor is much easier
than fixing laminate floor. For example, if you have a scratch on a hardwood
floor, technicians can sand down the board to remove the scratch without
damaging the wood. The same scratch, however, can't be sanded down on laminate
flooring because the top layer is not real wood. You'd simply sand away the
fake wood veneer and reveal the inside of the boards.
In conclusion, whether you choose laminate or hardwood,
water can be detrimental to your flooring. Laminate floors are much more
affordable, easy to install, and they require little maintenance. Hardwood
floors are more likely to scratch, but those scratches can be buffed away. If
you would like to know more about flooring, contact us
at Mikro Corporation
today.
